Parker Byrd, a sophomore at East Carolina College who misplaced his leg in a boating twist of fate two years in the past, become the primary individual to play in a DI baseball (generic term) with a prosthetic leg.
He debuted for the Pirates within the 8th inning as a pinch-hitter of their 16-2 win ultimate night time.
“It is without doubt one of the proudest moments I’ve ever had as a trainer,” Cliff Godwin, supervisor of the crew, mentioned in an on-field interview with WCTI-TV, reported by means of ESPN. “And he’s going to get some extra. He has labored his tail off, it was once tremendous emotional. The umpire in the back of house plate advised me when I used to be making a transformation he has been umpiring for 17-18 years and it’s the coolest second he has ever been part of.”
In the summertime of 2022, Byrd’s legs had been minimize by means of a ship propeller, leading to shedding his proper one. He had 22 surgical procedures in a 45-day window, proving that restoration was once going to be a protracted street. In December of that very same 12 months, he gained his prosthetic leg. 19 months later, he was once in a position to stroll as much as house plate to swing.
“I imply sit back bumps guy, it’s completely extra special,” Byrd mentioned after the sport. “This crowd, those enthusiasts, those other people, my circle of relatives, my teammates, coaches I truly may just no longer be extra grateful and blessed.”
After the video of him enjoying went viral on social media, many reached out to Byrd and presented their toughen. One individual was once former New York Yankee Jim Abbott, a glass who was once born with out his proper hand.
“Neatly completed Parker! Not anything can prevent you!” he wrote on X.
